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Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd.

Detailed Design of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Ashram Infrastructure

Project Summary

Project

In this INR 1.8 billion project in Dharampur, India, the SRM Ashram Committee requested that Tata Consulting Engineers provide a detailed design for an economical ashram and surrounding infrastructure that would be sustainable for the next 100 years. The project was challenging on several levels. The site is hemmed in by valleys with elevations ranging from 1:1 to 1:10, and the design had to preserve the existing ecology. Additionally, the team had to plan for considerable pedestrian traffic of up to 8,000 visitors per day moving as a group through the site. Other environmental considerations included proper ventilation, sun direction, wind levels, and noise reduction for the temple, housing, and dining hall to meet the spiritual requirements of an ashram. The dining hall needed to host 6,000 guests at a time, and the meditation center needed to have seating capacity for 5,000 people. The project also had to meet zero water discharge and effective solid waste management system for the 5.57 million square foot build area.

Solution

Tata Consulting Engineers used Bentley software to develop conceptual, schematic and detailed designs and analysis. Three-dimensional digital terrain models were essential to planning the placement of utilities, roads, and buildings to accommodate the steep slopes. Tata used Bentley civil design software to optimize the retaining wall design and ensure effective utilization of excavated materials with the site. The utility infrastructure was established relative to core components of the project, including roads, parking lots, and lighting, as well as accommodating other critical components: the temple, dining hall, museum, library, classrooms, welcome center, administrative block, monuments, lake, amphitheater, and landscaping.

Outcome

One of the most important criteria of the project was to minimize operation and maintenance costs of the facilities, which was achieved by performing cost-benefit analyses to arrive at the best-fit solutions applicable for the site. International and Indian IRC code design standards were ensured using the civil design software. The applications also helped the team create 3D presentations for the client, which helped reduce the cost of project delivery.

Software

Tata Consulting Engineers used Bentley’s 3D design technologies—including MicroStation, Bentley Map, GEOPAK, InRoads, Bentley MX, PowerCivil for India, Haestad, and STAAD—to develop the master plan with the help of the project architects and planner; and to prepare detailed designs of the infrastructure, transport, road, and building MEP components. The firm’s standard process for interdisciplinary information transfer was synchronized with Bentley software.

Outcome/Facts

The ashram is expected to accommodate 8,000 visitors per day.

Utility and infrastructure planning was challenging due to the site’s steep and varying slopes and the need to preserve the existing ecology.